I drove to the casino... GREAT SUCCESS

I wanted to tell you all about my accomplishment.

Last Thursday I got into my car to go meet my parents, sister, and brother in law at the casino.  I was FREAKING out and 10 minutes into the drive I had to stop at a gas station to use the restroom.

I took two Ativan, and continued driving.  While I was driving I did some breathing exercises when I would get panicky, and distract myself with other thoughts or just blare my music.

I DROVE AN HOUR AND A HALF from my house and didn't have a panic attack.  I got to the casino and started crying when I pulled in the parking lot.  I STAYED THE NIGHT there and didn't have to drive home until the morning.

I lost money but heck, it was WORTH IT!!!

I just thought I'd tell you all that. :)

Twiggygal~

Way to go Twiggy!!!  What an enormous step you took, and you did everything you needed to do to get through it!  Be VERY proud of yourself!

 Now your kicking some butt Twiggy, Good job and it's great to hear from you again and missed you

  Cowboy up

Hi Twiggy,

New member here! You are able to drive while taking 2 ativan?  I usually have my panic attacks while driving but I have not taken meds for this issue due fear that taking any sedatives would not be safe.  By the way good luck at the Casino!!

Ocean&Sun- Welcome to Healing Well! I take 1 Ativan every day to make me feel just 'normal'. If I don't take it everyday I have panic attacks. It doesn't make me tired. 1 Ativan is .5 mgs.

I took the second one about a half hour after the first one. It made me a bit tired, but nothing I couldn't handle.

With benzos, it is recommended that you first take them WITHOUT driving to see how you react. What kind of meds are you on? What is your dosage and how do you react to them?

I started on the Ativan taking 2 a day and then weaned myself down to 1. I only take the second when I absolutely have to. (driving far causes extreme panic for me, and the second Ativan just smooths everything out)  Driving causes almost all of my panic attacks.


Lyn!!!! I hope I win too next time LOL. It's been a while. I got myself an office for my company about 15 minutes from my house. I have been driving farther and now I can go to Target and most any store on only one Ativan rather than two. (still too scared to go to a mall EEK) Thank you for your support. I will be around more. LUVS YOU LOTS LYN!!!

:)

TG~

I would recommend you talk to your doctor about increasing your dose of Lexapro if you are on a small dose. In studies it is said that 10 mgs of Lexapro is similar to taking a placebo (meaning it hardly makes an effect at all)

I got on the full dose about 2 months after I started on 10 mgs. However, if the 20 mgs stops helping in the future, (recommended full dose) your doctor can increase the dosage to 30 mgs to even 40 mgs.

I would say a very small dose of Ativan (.5 mgs) will not make you pass out. It WILL however make you groggy at first when you take it. It took me about 3 days to get used to. (and that was taking 2 a day) If you have Ativan, I'd say take it. I'm also in Minnesota. We don't have the greatest weather either. In fact we had snow on the ground last week and I was in the backyard with my dog playing in it. But it's melted now. hehehehe

I have "low" blood pressure too. Benzos like Ativan have nothing to do with blood pressure. I've been told mine is low, but a healthy low. So don't be concerned with that.

You'd only have to be concerned if you were taking a beta blocker like Inderol with the low blood pressure. Beta blockers are for high blood pressure but are also prescribed to anxiety and panic disorder sufferers if no other medication helps. It slows the heart rate which thus helps with the anxiety. (or it's supposed to anyways)

If you have the Ativan, I'd say try it on a day when your anxiety is bad and you're at home (NOT IN THE CAR AT FIRST! LOL) if you've never taken it before. Just see if it helps. You can also get a pill cutter for about $2 at Walgreens or any drug store if you want to cut the .5 mgs in half to make it .25 mgs. (there is a score on the Ativan in which you can cut it in half)

Hope this helps !!! :)

TG~